The Ancient Origins of Consciousness: How the Brain Created Experience (The MIT Press)

How consciousness appeared much earlier in evolutionary history than is commonly assumed, and why all vertebrates and perhaps even some invertebrates are conscious. How is consciousness created? When did it first appear on Earth, and how did it evolve? What constitutes consciousness, and which animals can be said to be sentient? In this book, Todd Feinberg and Jon Mallatt draw on recent scientific findings to answer these questions -- and to tackle the most fundamental question about the nature of consciousness: how does the material brain create subjective experience? After assembling a list of the biological and neurobiological features that seem responsible for consciousness, and considering the fossil record of evolution, Feinberg and Mallatt argue that consciousness appeared much earlier in evolutionary history than is commonly assumed. About 520 to 560 million years ago, they explain, the great "Cambrian explosion" of animal diversity produced the first complex brains, which were accompanied by the first appearance of consciousness; simple reflexive behaviors evolved into a unified inner world of subjective experiences. From this they deduce that all vertebrates are and have always been conscious -- not just humans and other mammals, but also every fish, reptile, amphibian, and bird. Considering invertebrates, they find that arthropods (including insects and probably crustaceans) and cephalopods (including the octopus) meet many of the criteria for consciousness. The obvious and conventional wisdom--shattering implication is that consciousness evolved simultaneously but independently in the first vertebrates and possibly arthropods more than half a billion years ago. Combining evolutionary, neurobiological, and philosophical approaches allows Feinberg and Mallatt to offer an original solution to the "hard problem" of consciousness. How Is Consciousness Created? When Did It First Appear On Earth, And How Did It Evolve? What Constitutes Consciousness, And Which Animals Can Be Said To Be Sentient? In This Book, Todd Feinberg And Jon Mallatt Draw On Recent Scientific Findings To Answer These Question About The Nature Of Consciousness: How Does The Material Brain Create Subjective Experience? After Assembling A List Of The Biological And Neurobiological Features That Seem Responsible For Consciousness, And Considering The Fossil Record Of Evolution, Feinberg And Mallett Argue That Consciousness Appeared Much Earlier In Evolutionary History Than Is Commonly Assumed. About 520 To 560 Million Years Ago, They Explain, The Great Cambrian Explosion Of Animal Diversity Produced The First Complex Brains, Which Were Accompanied By The First Appearance Of Consciousness; Simple Reflexive Behaviors Evolved Into A Unified Inner World Of Subjective Experiences. From This They Deduce That All Vertebrates Are And Have Always Been Conscious - Not Just Humans And Other Mammals, But Also Every Fish, Reptile, Amphibian, And Bird. Considering Invertebrates, They Find That Arthropods (including Insects And Probably Crustaceans) And Cephalopods (including The Octopus) Meet Many Of The Criteria For Consciousness. The Obvious And Conventional Wisdom-shattering Implication Is That Consciousness Evolved Simultaneously But Independently In The First Vertebrates And Possibly Arthropods More Than Half A Billion Years Ago. Combining Evolutionary, Neurobiological, And Philosophical Approaches Allows Feinberg And Mallatt To Offer An Original Solution To The Hard Problem Of Consciousness. -- From Dust Jacket. The Mystery Of Subjectivity -- The General Biological And Special Neurobiological Features Of Conscious Animals -- The Birth Of Brains -- The Cambrian Explosion -- Consciousness Gets A Head Start : Vertebrate Brains, Vision, And The Cambrian Birth Of The Mental Image -- Two-step Evolution Of Sensory Consciousness In Vertebrates -- Searching For Sentience : Feelings -- Finding Sentience -- Does Consciousness Need A Backbone? -- Neurobiological Naturalism : A Consilience. Todd E. Feinberg, And Jon M. Mallatt. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. « How is consciousness created? When did it first appear on Earth, and how did it evolve? What constitutes consciousness, and which animals can be said to be sentient? In this book, Todd Feinberg and Jon Mallatt draw on recent scientific findings to answer these questions -- and to tackle the most fundamental question about the nature of consciousness: how does the material brain create subjective experience? After assembling a list of the biological and neurobiological features that seem responsible for consciousness, and considering the fossil record of evolution, Feinberg and Mallatt argue that consciousness appeared much earlier in evolutionary history than is commonly assumed. About 520 to 560 million years ago, they explain, the great "Cambrian explosion" of animal diversity produced the first complex brains, which were accompanied by the first appearance of consciousness; simple reflexive behaviors evolved into a unified inner world of subjective experiences. From this they deduce that all vertebrates are and have always been conscious -- not just humans and other mammals, but also every fish, reptile, amphibian, and bird. Considering invertebrates, they find that arthropods (including insects and probably crustaceans) and cephalopods (including the octopus) meet many of the criteria for consciousness. The obvious and conventional wisdom--shattering implication is that consciousness evolved simultaneously but independently in the first vertebrates and possibly arthropods more than half a billion years ago. Combining evolutionary, neurobiological, and philosophical approaches allows Feinberg and Mallatt to offer an original solution to the "hard problem" of consciousness. »-- Résumé de l'éditeur Contents 6 Preface 8 Acknowledgments 12 List of Figures and Tables 14 1 The Mystery of Subjectivity 22 2 The General Biological and Special Neurobiological Features of Conscious Animals 38 3 The Birth of Brains 58 4 The Cambrian Explosion 72 5 Consciousness Gets a Head Start 90 6 Two-Step Evolution of Sensory Consciousness In Vertebrates 122 7 Searching for Sentience 150 8 Finding Sentience 170 9 Does Consciousness Need a Backbone? 192 10 Neurobiological Naturalism 216 Appendix 250 Notes 272 References 308 Index 370